I ride to work daily & home for lunch most of the time, problem is it's only 2.5 miles. I get in some weekend rides, 50 - 100 miles. My concern is most of my riding time the bike isn't completely warmed up. I'm in Los Angeles so cold weather isn't an issue and I let it warm up for a couple minuets and start out easy. Just wondering how bad this is for the bike and if there is anything I can do to mitigate the bad effects? FYI, 05 1200c w/ 30K, runs perfect. Thanks. JF

 

As long as you're getting out on the weekends and doing 50+ miles, you'll be fine.
The one thing I would recommend is keeping the bike on a Battery Tender at night. The short 2.5 mile runs aren't long enough for the charging system to replenish the juice that was sucked from the battery when the bike is started. That takes 20+ minutes at cruise speed.

 

Thanks for the tip on the battery tender as my ride to work is also very short (1.7 miles one way)and the bike really only gets ridden for any distance on the weekend.

 

I would think so. The condensation developing inside your engine will not have time to bake off and it's going to sludge your oil. I would take the long way to work so it closer to 10 miles or just let her set till you can at least do that many miles. I don't let my motor warm up unless I can take it out for at least ten miles, it's never a good idea if you don't want to expose your engine to what's considered extreme conditions.

 

Leave early and take another LONGER route.

Find several alternate routes: You'll feel better and your oil won't be full of condensation and contaminants. Your bike will thank you and your co-workers will wonder why you are smiling all the time !!!!!

Ride safe !!

 

Good to know, thanks for the input guys!

 

Another place the condensation builds up is in inside the pipes and mufflers, which is not good. Another reason to take that long ride home!

If you can't ride to work on a pedal bicycle then any vehicle you use for short journeys like yours is going to need the same treatment, of regular longer trips to get it hot right through.

 

I have a commute that is only a bit longer than yours. I usually take the long way home and let it get good and warmed up before stopping.

 

I too have a 3 mile commute rides.

Try to give 2 minute warm, I don't use the upper rpm range, and with traffic lights and all its 10 minutes to commute point to point. I think it gets hot enough.

However, with only 2500 since my last oil change, lots of carbon burned into the oil turning it black (see other recent thread by another forum member about blackened oil).

I think a 2500 oil change (transmission too) schedule is good with a short ride commute bike.

Lastly, I doubt you are killing it ...it is the moisture issue that you need to control and to take care not to use full throttle when the engine is cold.

 

As always he is right. I keep my bike on a tender all the time as my battery is old and sometimes I don't ride it as much as I should. The short trips really do kill the battery. Even after a long ride when I plug the tender in it goes into charge mode for a min or 2. You should try to let the bike warm up some if you can also, but getting out on the weekends is the best thing for it.